By Savitri Narayanan
One can imagine the magnitude of groundwork that goes into organizing a week-long film festival where international to vernacular, classic to modern and award-winning films from various countries and platforms are shown across a dozen screens in various parts of Goa. Think of the co-ordination needed to manage the manpower, security, hospitality, transportation and accommodation of the delegates!
But none of these are the concerns of the film-enthusiast, the one who wears the IFFI badge and walks past the security gate! Within walking distance there are movies happening where one can walk in and out provided one has a booking. As a senior citizen, still in the glory of retirement it was a charming experience to witness how the world works!
Every morning I would pack my backpack with a bottle of drinking water and packed lunch, wear the IFFI badge, lock the door, hop into an auto rikshaw and head for the venue. The other day it so happened that the movie was not so interesting and I was longing for a nap too. Fortunately got a timely call offering me a lift home which I grabbed of course! It was while getting out of the car that I noticed my backpack was missing! Obviously it was left behind in the seat!
I promptly dialed the helpline number.
“Nothing valuable in it but that was my favourite bag which I bought in Singapore decades ago…”
“Madam”, said the voice at the other end politely cutting me short, “We do have a lost and found’ desk, can you come here and take a look tomorrow?”
There were three volunteers, college students, at the helpdesk.
“Please describe your bag madam”, was the instruction. They listened carefully and one of them walked away.
“Is this your bag, madam?”, in a few minutes the other girl at the counter showed me a photograph.
“Oh! yes, that’s mine!”
“Is this yours?”
“Yes, it is!”, I said looking at the familiar water bottle and lunchbox on the screen.
Soon the girl returned with my bag. My joy brimmed over not only at getting the bag back but at the efficiency of the system.
In the evening I was in for another shock!
When I got out of the auto rikshaw outside my home, the money pouch was missing!
‘Never mind, the phone and the house key are safe! The pouch had very little money! Good I didn’t carry my ATM card and Aadhaar card… ’, I consoled myself.
“Forget it!”, said a friend, “You could have lost your phone!”
Next morning there I was at the help desk again!
“Madam, what’s it today?”, smiled the volunteer.
“It’s my money pouch, there’s not much money in it but since I got the back-pack yesterday….”
“Madam, describe your bag, please!”
“It was light blue…”
One volunteer vanished while the other two exchanged amused smiles.
“Madam, how does your pouch open? With a button or a zip? How much money was in it?”
Soon the volunteer was back with my faded blue pouch. I walked away in admiration of the efficiency of the systems and commitment of the workforce.
It so happens that my walking stick and the faltering gait often triggers the inherent goodness in the common man. The way hands come forward to help me up a step, to cross the road or to carry a cup of tea from the counter to the table are ample evidence to know that the basic human values are still in place.
Those like me who’ve spent years in the classrooms could easily see something more beneath the smiles of the uniformed staff manning the counters or moving around briskly and promptly doing their assignments. Those eager-to-learn, observing and absorbing, caring and daring faces now belong the youth who’s taken charge of the world!
(Savitri Narayanan is a retired educationist at present in Bangaluru. A mother and grandmother, loves readig, writing and
travelling.)
